AE sweeps in-county foe

ARENAC EASTERN — Arenac Eastern may not win the North Star League softball title this season. With a sweep of rival AuGres-Sims on Thursday, they did their part to ensure that the Wolverines have a much more difficult task ahead of them.

Eastern scored five of its nine runs on the day in the first innings in both ends of the doubleheader, defeating the Wolverines 5-1 and 4-2. AGS came into the game unbeaten in league play and fell behind Posen atop the league with the losses. AGS travels to Posen on Monday and now needs wins in both games just to keep their hopes alive.

In the opener, four first-inning walks and Ashley Navarre's two-run single gave the Eagles a 3-1 lead, and Maddie Nelson collared AGS on four hits with six strikeouts.

The Wolverines scored their run as a result of two first-inning errors.

"Maddie pitched very well once again," said AE coach Mike Vogl. "Both errors were committed on the first four batters, (but) we did play some good 'D'."

AuGres-Sims' best chance to get back in the game came in the top of the third, but Nelson took a relay throw from center fielder Kaytlin Fitzgerald and threw a Wolverines baserunner out at home plate to end the threat.

AE then added two runs to its lead in the bottom of the third as Katrina Mahon had an RBI single and added another run on a bases-loaded walk.

Lyndsay Morrison took the loss for the Wolverines.

Jolene Tacey's RBI single and Chelsea Dery's sacrifice gave AE a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the second game, and while the Wolverines tied the score in the third on a couple of Eagles errors, AE used its defense to prevent further damage as right fielder Erin Ecker threw out an AGS baserunner at third base.

"Three assists by outfielders on this day made up for some of the shortcomings by our infield," Vogl said.

Katrina Mahon's two-run single in the bottom of the third snapped the 2-2 tie and Shawna Tacey kept AGS shut down from there.

Tacey allowed four hits, striking out five and walking one.

Kadie Kachmaryk led the Wolverines with two hits. Emily Lutz took the loss, allowing four hits and six walks with one strikeout.